SMALLRIG 73" Video Tripod, Max Load 8kg, Heavy Duty Tripod with 360 Degree Fluid Head and Quick Release Plate for DJI RS2, Camcorder, Cameras - 3751

Product Information

The head plate slot has built-in screw holes and the bowl base comes with 1/4”-20 threaded holes for accessory attachment. The built-in damping and balancing system enables 360° horizontal and +90°/-75° vertical movements. There are also 3/8″-16 threaded holes in the head base to support most tripods, arms, sliders, and other accessories with 3/8″-16 screws.

The SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod is claimed to weigh 4kg / 8.81 lbs. This does make it pretty lightweight considering its payload capacity and the height it can go. I thought it felt lighter than that and when I independently weighed it I found it was 3.6kg. Build Quality Its maximum height is 1.86 m (6’2″), which makes it very versatile for many different kinds of shoots. As a wildlife photographer and videographer, a major downside of this tripod for me is its minimum height, which is 0.85 m (2’9″). I often want ground-level shots, which would not be possible with this tripod. The tripod at minimum height SmallRig also advertises that it comes with an anti-slip carry handle. While it does have three of these on the tripod legs, you can only fit three fingers inside and I personally found that it wasn’t that comfortable or easy to use. How is it to use with a Digital Cinema Camera?

Carry Bag

Also, the plastic connections between the legs and the head area do dampen some vibrations, so it might not be such a disadvantage when shooting video. I was pleasantly surprised by the overall build quality. It is decently made despite a lot of affordable and lightweight materials being used. The tripod legs are made out of Aluminum Alloy. First, there’s the three-section double-shaft leg design, which is 89cm long when closed and achieves three heights; a minimum of 85cm, a mid-choice of 135cm and a maximum of 186cm. Secondly, there’s a three-pronged spreader between the first and second stage to add some extra stabilisation. Thirdly, it’s got a fluid two-way ball-head and a detachable pan handle.

The SmallRig AD-01 is a budget tripod, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good value. It satisfies the most basic functions of a tripod, but its fluid head will not work well for two of the most important features of a video tripod: panning and especially tilting. What is the ideal use case for this tripod? If you are working in a controlled, relatively safe environment where you just need something to hold your camera steady and maybe do a pan once in a while, the SmallRig AD-01 will be fine. However, if your main use case is a lot of panning and tilting in demanding environments, I would suggest spending more for a smoother fluid. The SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod comes in a lightweight carrying bag. This bag is ok, but I do worry about how long the zippers will last. The SmallRig AD-01 3751 tripod weighs just 2.86g/6.3lbs yet builds-in a lot of features you would expect to find on a high-end tripod aimed at professional broadcasters and filmmakers.Lightweight Carbon Fiber】The camera tripod is made of carbon fiber legs, which is lightweight and load-bearing of 25kg/55lbs, making it more suitable for carrying and traveling. Also comes with a customized handbag for better storage, protection, and portability. That head – which on its own weighs 696g/1.53lbs and attaches to the SmallRig AD-01 3751 via a 3/8-inch thread – even has a 75mm levelling bowl base for setting-up perfectly level shots. It also boasts a spirit level/bubble level to help get the tripod itself level. If you have both stages of the legs adjusted and use the tripod at height then there is certainly a lot more flex, especially towards the bottom of the legs. Thus, it is not surprising that this tripod has some compromises. The question is whether these compromises are acceptable or not if you’re in the market for a budget tripod.

While the tripod does feature a built-in bubble level indicator it isn’t illuminated so you can’t see it in darker conditions. The spreaders do their intended job, and again, you can’t complain much considering how much this tripod system costs. Operation When you consider this, it’s no surprise that the SmallRig AD-01’s fluid head is one of its biggest weaknesses. Perhaps the best thing I can say about panning and tilting with the SmallRig is that it will give better results than trying to pan with a ball head – but it’s definitely not fun. The fluid head of this tripod is its biggest weaknessPanning and tilting are a little easier because you can use the momentum of the pan to help with the tilt. While there is still some rebound effect it isn’t as noticeable as when you are just tilting. SmallRig Universal Tripod Dolly 3986 This tripod features a built-in bubble level, and it works with a 75mm bowl base. I am going to review this product in the same way I review any product. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, who makes it, or where it comes from. Every product gets reviewed in the exact same independent way. How much does it weigh?

Stable and Adjustable Tripod：Heavy duty aluminum double-tube tripod with built-in bubble level, 75mm bowl bottom, which can provide better stability for the video tripod. The adjustable height of the travel tripod is: 85-186cm/33"-73", and the maximum load is: 8KG / 17LBS. The tilting mechanism also has an additional problem. If you let it sit for a while without usage, starting it up again gives a bit of additional resistance and a distracting sound. I also found a noticeable rough spot in the tilting range that I felt as a vibration through the handle. The Fluid Head: Other Features One thing I didn’t like is that the spreaders don’t have a rounded edge and they are quite sharp. This is something you need to be aware of.The overall operation of the tripod is good considering its price point. The pan and tilt adjustment knobs don’t offer a lot of finite adjustment. There are no counterbalance steps or setting adjustments.